Opportunity Title : Commonwealth Scholarships Startup Fellowship 2026–27

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, provides educational and professional development opportunities to talented individuals from Commonwealth countries.

For this fellowship, the CSC partners with Imperial College London, a leading UK university renowned for science, technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The partnership aims to equip promising startup founders with the knowledge, networks, and resources needed to develop sustainable businesses and create economic opportunities in their countries.

The fellowship is particularly suitable for founders who have moved beyond the idea stage and have a functioning business, an established product or service, and evidence that customers are using and paying for their solution.

Successful applicants can receive a range of financial and practical benefits, including:

• Airfare: Travel costs for attending the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana.
• Accommodation and meals: Accommodation and meals will be provided during the bootcamp.
• UK travel: Approved return travel from the Fellow's home country to London, UK.
• Visa costs: Reimbursement of eligible visa application fees.
• Vaccination costs: Eligible vaccination expenses may be reimbursed.
• Business grant: Up to £2,000 in equity-free funding to support eligible business or fellowship participation-related expenses.
• Disability support: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission provides appropriate support for Fellows with disabilities where applicable.

These benefits can help reduce the financial barriers associated with participating in an international entrepreneurship programme while giving fellows the opportunity to focus on business development and learning.

Applicants should carefully review the eligibility requirements before submitting an application. Generally, candidates should:

1. Be a citizen of an eligible low- or middle-income Commonwealth country or have been granted refugee status.
2. Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
3. Have sufficient proficiency in spoken and written English.
4. Not have participated in a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the previous five years.
5. Be available to commence the fellowship on the specified start date.
6. Demonstrate innovation in their product, service, business model, or approach to solving a market need.
7. Have a business that has been actively operating for at least 12 months.
8. Have a product or service that is already available to customers.
9. Demonstrate genuine customer demand through paying customers and continued customer adoption.

This means the fellowship is not primarily targeted at people who only have a business idea. Applicants should be able to demonstrate that their startup is already operating and has measurable progress.

Interested applicants are expected to complete the online application form and provide detailed information about their educational background, professional experience, startup, and motivation for joining the programme.

The application requires applicants to:

1. Provide Educational Information

Applicants may provide details of up to two undergraduate or postgraduate university degrees they have obtained, where applicable.

2. Provide Employment History

Applicants should provide details of up to two previous jobs, including relevant positions and experience.

3. Provide Referees

Applicants must provide the names and positions of two referees who are qualified to comment on their abilities and their potential to benefit from the fellowship.

4. Explain Their Startup

Applicants should provide information about their business, including their role as a founder or team member and the nature of the business.

5. Demonstrate Business Progress

Applicants should explain the progress their startup has made. This may include:

• Key achievements
• Current revenue
• Customer traction
• Business growth
• Research conducted
• Important milestones

Providing measurable evidence can help demonstrate that the startup is beyond the idea stage.

6. Explain Competitor Research

Applicants should describe the research they have conducted into competitors and explain how their startup compares with existing solutions in the market.

7. Explain Intellectual Property Ownership

Applicants should provide details about their startup's intellectual property (IP) and explain who owns the relevant intellectual property.

8. Submit a One-Minute Video

Applicants are required to create a one-minute video explaining:

• The problem their business solves.
• Their solution.
• Progress made so far.
• The advantage or impact they expect to gain from participating in the fellowship.

The video should communicate the startup's value proposition clearly and concisely.

9. Explain the Innovation

Applicants should explain what makes their product, service, business model, or approach innovative and how it addresses the identified market need.

10. Explain Why They Are the Right Founder or Team

Applicants should demonstrate why they and their team are well positioned to grow the business. This can include relevant:

• Skills
• Competencies
• Qualifications
• Industry experience
• Entrepreneurial experience

Applicants should also identify any important gaps within their team.

11. Explain Their Motivation and Goals

Applicants should explain why they want to participate in the Commonwealth Scholarships Startup Fellowship and clearly identify the goals they expect to achieve through the programme.

12. Upload Identification

Applicants must upload a scanned copy of their passport or national identity card as part of the application.